Crystal River current., 1887-03-19
THE SOURCES OF RIVERS.
Facts About the Localities Where
Great streams Rise.

Facts About the Localities Where
Great streams Rise.
Most people have probably heard the
story of the house in Ohio which is said
to be so exactly balanced upon the
boundary line between the basins of the
great lakes and the Ohio river that the
rain falling upon one side of the gable
roof goes to join the St. Lawrence and
the ocean, while on the other side 1t
helps to swell little brook that finally
mingles with the Ohio and the gulf.
There is a more wonderful place than
this in India. Almost five hundred
miles due west of Calcutta is the AM
merkantak mountain, which is place OF
great sanct ty in the eyes of the Hin
docs, owing 10 the remarkable fact that
il is the source of one of the large riv-
ers of Ind IL, and of feeders of three
other rivers that are among the great
est in the peninsula. The torrents that
flow down its sides travel TO all the car
dinal points OF the compass. The Ner-
budda, which takes its rise here, winds
its way over eight hundred miles OF
plain before it empties into the Indian
ocean. The three other great rivers
that are fed from Mount Ammerkantak
are the Godavery, the Mahanuddy, and
the Some.
The natives of India have great
reverence for the sources of q number
of their largest rivers, whose waters by
means of irrigating works are often
used in times of drought to nourish the
soil and prevent or mitigate famine.
The GodaverY. the most important
river in south INDIA takes its rise in a
brook that issues from II hillside near
the village OF Nassik. The spot where
this brook gushes from the rock is ap-
preached by II flight of $50 stone steps.
at the top of which is II great stone
platform built at the foot OF the rock
from which the stream issues. An
image under a large canopy has been
SO placed that the water pours out Of
its mouth and then goes sparkling down
the hill From this spot tho stream
flows nine hundred miles right across
the peninsula, growing Oh the way in
to Il mighty r.ver and draining 120,-
900 square miles. The source of the
Godavery is one of the sights of the
Bombay presidency.
Mr.. W. ID Cooley. the geographer,
made n cur Gus bunder about the head
strcHm OF INC Luapuil flFef, Wnich
unites with the Lualaba to form the
upper Congo. This stream is the
Chambesi. which empties into Lake
Bangweplo. Cooley, misled by the
similarity in the names, thought the
Chambesi was the upper waters of the
Zambesi, and it appears on his map as
part of the Lamb.si system. 1t is an
Interesting fact. shown by the latest
discoveries. that the Chambesi, which
for some wears has been regarded as
the ultimate source of the Congo,
must now yield to the Lualaba. which
is the real hcadwaters of the mighty
river.
One little stream, whose waters flow
from river to river until they finally join
the Amazon. runs for ten or fifteen
miles by the side Of one of the sources
of the great Paraguay. Though they
flow parallel to each other, and only
two or three miles apart. they run in
oppos te directions. Canoes are often
hauled across the intervening portage,
and in this way it is possible for small
boat to travel from the mouth of the
Amazons to Bucnos Ayrcs along the
inland waters of South America, and
with portage of only two or three
miles.-NeaO York Sun.